Celtic loan defender Gustaf Lagerbielke has praised Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin for mounting a challenge to his own club this season, after he won a Sweden international recall.

The 24-year-old stopper was shipped out on loan to the Eredivisie and has finally broken into the Twente Enschede team after initially struggling for game time.

He earned a surprise recall for the Swedes after injuries to defenders and could win his third cap against Azerbaijan tonight in a Nations League game in Stockholm.

But he's been closely following the fortunes of his old manager at Elfsborg, Thelin and the incredible start he's made to his tenure at Pittodrie after collecting 31 out of a possible 33 points to keep them level with his parent club at the top of the Premiership.

Lagerbielke said: "We have remained in contact both before and after Jimmy moved to Scotland.

"So it's great he's doing so well.

"It's fantastic he's gone so long undefeated and he's taken the fight to Celtic.

"He's done incredibly well."

Read more:

"It's actually amazing what he's achieved so far because in Scotland, Celtic and Rangers have won every title since the 1980s.

"So another club being at the top - at least for a while anyway - is really big.

"And his Aberdeen side are also nine points ahead of Rangers as well, that's really cool."